Ruth Joy Burr

Ruth Joy Burr, 87, peacefully returned to her heavenly home on July 11, 2023.

Ruth was born on June 2, 1936, in Moab, Utah, to Klin and Nila Darton. She was the seventh of nine children, and the family spent most of Ruth’s childhood in Salt Lake City. Ruth graduated from Jordan High School in 1954, having met Wesley Burr during her senior year. Four years later, on November 14, 1958, Wes and Ruth were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.

During the couple’s 64 years together, they lived in Minnesota, Oregon, and Utah and served a two-year mission in New Zealand. They were living in Washington, Utah, when Ruth passed away.

Ruth was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. The greatest joys of her life were her family and the gospel. She spent all of her life sharing her time, her home, her talents, and her pure disposition with everyone around her.

Despite her innocent nature, Ruth was usually up for a loving tease or prank—whether she was the one doing or receiving the prank. (The usually, here, refers to her hair; all of Ruth’s descendants knew to never touch her hair!)
Ruth both sang and played the piano and spent countless hours performing, accompanying, directing, composing, and playwriting throughout her life. She also spent time crocheting baby quilts, baptism quilts, and wedding quilts for all fifteen of her grandchildren and many baby quilts for her great-grandchildren. Her other talents and interests included ceramic painting, canning, and playing card games.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Wesley Burr; three of her children and their spouses, Kenneth and Paula Burr (West Jordan, UT), Robert and Cheryl Burr (Lakewood, CA), and Nicole and Kyle Kimzey (Washington, UT); fifteen grandchildren; and forty-two great-grandchildren (with numbers forty-three and forty-four on the way). She is predeceased by her parents, four siblings, and her son, Steven Burr.

Ruth’s funeral service will be Saturday, July 15th at the Grasslands Stake Center (996 West Center Street; Springville, UT) Saturday July 15th, at 11:00 a.m. The viewing will be that morning from 9:30 to 10:30 and the graveside service will be at the Evergreen Cemetery (1997 S 400 East Street; Springville, UT) at 12:30 p.m.